Arkansas @ ‘Bama-It doesn’t get any better than this. 2:30 PM on CBS. It’s the high octane, throw it around Petrino offense versus the aggressive, blitzing, playmaking S defense. It should be a classic. Auburn should be fine this weekend and get some good work in before a very challenging Oct starting with a game against South Carolina in Columbia. Here’s a look at this weekend’s SEC matchups and a couple of national tilts.
(Last week 5-5, 25-9 overall)
No.14 Arkansas @ No.3 Alabama: 2:3o PM, CBS: Big article in the News today on how S and Kirby play defense. They’ll have their hands full this Saturday with Tyler Wilson, Joe Adams. Greg Childs and others in the Arkansas areal arsenal. S is all about defense and he loves explosive plays and touchdowns in the red zone, but he really doesn’t take the time to concern himself with the offensive “process.” He knows what he wants, he recruits the studs to do it and he wants Jim McElwain to figure it out. McElwain has not been blessed with an Aaron Murray or a Tyler Bray, but Greg McElroy was pretty solid and A.J. McCarron has a chance. A.J. will be tested this Saturday as I’m sure Ark will try to load up the box to stop Trent and Eddie. So A.J. will have to make some plays. Maze and Hanks will have to step up and take a leadership role and make some plays to help this offense move the football. A Trent or Lacy burst for 70 or 80 would help. It’s hard to stop those two even if you load up. And while the Arkansas passing game is potent, the Alabama dbs are one of the two best units in the country along with LSU. I’m not sure which one is better at this point. We’ll know more this weekend. The thing about S and Kirby is when you are at the line of scrimmage on offense and you audible, the ‘Bama defense will counter audible and change defensive formations. In other words they out think you and have the four and five star players to stop you. Arkansas has their work cut out on offense.
I say Alabama does enough on offense and the defense does enough to neutralize the Ark passing attack and neutralize Ronnie Wingo running the ball. Robert Lester got hurt last week, but he’ll probably play. DeQuan and Dre will be tested at the corners. Dont’a and Courtney need to dominate and both lines need to play well. Oline will have to work hard to open holes for Trent and Eddie and give McCarron protection to find his receivers. McCarron needs to make good decisions and not throw interceptions and conversely, ‘Bama needs to get turnovers on defense. This game could be decided by how well the ‘Bama defense plays. It’ll be a battle, but I see the Crimson Tiders getting it done and moving forward to Florida at Gainesville undefeated.
Tide 28, Arkansas 24
Florida Atlantic @Auburn: 6 PM, ESPN Game Plan, ESPN3: Honestly, I didn’t do much research on this one. Just looked at the point spread and it’s 33 1/2 and that’s all the affirmation I needed. This is an important game for the Tigers, though. Now they’re thinking they need to get to a bowl game and they need to gain some confidence particularly on defense. Chiz says he’s going to “simplify” on defense. Didn’t think it was too complicated to begin with. Thought they really didn’t do enough blitzing against Clemson. But apparently these youngsters haven’t gotten it yet. The offense should be OK, but needs to keep improving throwing the ball downfield and getting Michael Dyer more touches. Some guys need to step up on this defense. Somebody needs to take a leadership role. T’Sharvin Bell would be a possible leader along with Nosa Eguae. And the Tigers have got to tackle better. That’s paramount if this team wants to have a good season and play in a decent bowl game. There’s a lot to get better at and this week they need to do that to get ready for that brutal stretch in October. Tigers needs to be focused and ready to execute against Florida Atlantic. We’ll see what happens.
Auburn 48, FA 14
Georgia @ Ole Miss: 11:21 AM, SEC Network: This is a critical game for Mark Richt and his quest to right his ship and maybe get some people off his back. He has to win this game. Ole Miss is reeling and has no quarterback. Houston Nutt is in trouble. I think Isaiah Crowell is going to step out in the game for Georgia. He’s shown signs of greatness and his numbers in high school were astonishing. He looks like a Lattimore-Dyer type of running back. He should do well against a questionable Ole Miss run defense. Georgia gets it done and Richt keeps his SEC East hopes and job security alive.
‘Dogs 31, Rebels 17
Vandy @No.12 South Carolina: 6 PM ESPN2: Spurrier has had trouble with the ‘Dores over the years. His record is 4-2, but the games have been decided by an average of four points. The ‘Dores are a confident team right now. They’re playing with a lot of energy and passion. James Franklin and his staff have these guys hungry and in the best shape of their lives. There’s just a new mindset in Nashville. The ‘Dores think they can win this game. Marcus Lattimore is all world and the ‘Dores have to contain him somehow and not let him go off for 200+. I’m tempted to pick Vandy, not only because I went there, but also because I think they’re a pretty good football team especially on defense. But with Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery, that’s asking a lot in Columbia. The key for Vandy on defense is making Stephen Garcia throw the ball. He makes mistakes when pressured. Vandy has a pretty good dline which is aggressive and will get after the quarterback. The secondary already has 10 picks this year and they’re excellent. South Carolina hasn’t shown that they are very good on defense, but can Vandy quarterback Larry Smith throw it downfield? That’s the big question mark. I think this is going to be an awesome game, and I’m going to pick the upset. The Vandy defense gets it done and the Vandy rushing attack and Smith do enough.
Vandy 24, SC 23
No.15 Florida @ Kentucky: 6 PM, ESPN: Florida a pretty good football team. Not sure they’re great. We’ll find out more this weekend and in the upcoming weeks with games coming up against Alabama @ home Oct.1, @ LSU Oct. 8, vs Auburn in Gainesville, Oct. 15 and, after a bye week, Georgia @ Jacksonville, Oct.29. This is not a totally easy game for them, because it’s at UK, so we’ll see how they play. Chris Rainey, like Lattimore, is all world. He definitely has world class speed and he runs pretty well between the tackles. Their defense is athletic, but they make a lot of mistakes with penalties. They had six pass interference calls on them against UT last week. UT lost star receiver Justin Hunter during the game with a knee injury and that hurt their chances. Kentucky really struggling after losing to Louisville last week. Florida should take care of business this week and get ready for a war with the Crimson Tide.
Gators 42, Ky 14
Louisiana Tech @ Ms. State: 6 PM, ESPNU: State needs to get back on track. Not sure what they’re going to do with Chris Relf. I guess he’ll start, but Tyler Russell is a good quarterback, so we’ll see what Mullen does. State has to have this to get back on track and make some noise. They have a good team; they were just devastated by the Auburn loss and then just ran out of gas in the second half against LSU. They need to right their ship.
State 42, La Tech 28
No.2 LSU @ West Virginia: 7 PM, ABC: This should be a war between a stellar defense and a wide open, high scoring offensive attack. Geno Smith playing very well at quarterback for WVU. Morgantown will be rocking. The question is can Jarrett Lee, much like A.J. McCarron, do enough to help his team win? LSU’s offense is average. West Virginia’s is outstanding. LSU is good enough on defense to hold the WVU offense down some and they do enough offensively to come home with the W.
LSU 28, WVU 27
National games:
No.11 Florida State @ N0.21 Clemson: Florida State’s qb, E.J. Manuel, is probably out, but this redshirt frosh, Clint Trickett, did a pretty good job in relief last week against No.1 Oklahoma. Tajh Boyd played lights out against Auburn and his freshman wr Sammy Watkins looks like he’ll be as good as Julio Jones and A.J. Green. Clemson playing with a lot of confidence after last week’s victory. I still like Florida State’s defense and some of their playmakers on offense. Florida State sneaks by in Death Valley.
FSU 24, Clemson 21
N0.7 Oklahoma State @ No.8 Texas A&M: It’s the wide open OSU offense versus a pretty decent A&M defense and a pretty good A&M offense against a suspect OSU defense. Like A&M’s qb Ryan Tannehill and the 6’4″, 225 Jeff Fuller at wide out just barely over Cowboys’ qb Brandon Weeden and all world wide receiver Justin Blackmon. I’m giving A&M and the 12th man the edge in a shoot out.
A&M 35, OK State 34
(Dont’a Hightower and ‘Bama defense will have their hands full with Tyler Wilson and Hogs’ offense.)